City starlet Tom Adeyemi has targeted a midfield reunion with former Academy pal Korey Smith after agreeing a new two-year contract at Carrow Road.
Big things are still expected of the former Norwich School pupil, despite a quiet second-half to 2009/10, and now that he has secured his immediate future in Norfolk, Adeyemi is hoping to match the achievements of Smith, who has been a permanent fixture in Paul Lambert’s starting XI.
“I’m very pleased,” he said, speaking to Canaries Player. “It gives me a chance to extend my future at the club and show some commitment. I want to be here for the long-term and do as well as I can.
“Coming up through the ranks, it has always been my dream to play at Carrow Road and be involved. And to extend my stay here is really pleasing.
“It would be really good if both me and Korey could be involved next year and form a partnership similar to what we had in the youth team. He has done really well this year and that is something I’m looking to do next year.”
Adeyemi burst onto the scene as City were preparing for life in League One last summer and after a wonder goal against a Manchester United XI, Canary fans were hailing another youth team gem.
He continued his good form with a brace at Fakenham Town and was a second-half substitute during that opening day 7-1 disaster against Colchester United.
But even though he was always in and around the matchday squad in the months that followed, Adeyemi – who has been at the club since the age of eight – is hoping for many more starts in the Championship next year.
“I’m looking to kick on next season and have the same sort of impact in pre-season as I did last year. I want to establish myself in that first team, kick on and hopefully be a major part of helping the team in the Championship.”
Reserve team chief Ian Crook certainly shared the youngster’s joy and according to the former Canary playmaker, Adeyemi should have a big, big future in Norfolk.
And this season could be a crucial one – like a fine wine, the League One Apprentice of the Year should get better and better with age.
“When he gets his opportunity, he needs to take it,” said ‘Chippy’. “But Tom is only a young boy and when you are that age, you go through peaks and troughs, which he has done this season.
“He reached some real highs in pre-season and then he became physically tired when it all caught up with him. But he kicked on again and now he’s got to get some consistency into his game.
“He’s got a huge amount of talent and I think he’ll have a big future here.”
Talking of Crook and his reserves outfit, they were in action yesterday, seeing off Wycombe Wanderers thanks to a George Francomb penalty at Carrow Road.
The second-half spot-kick, after Patrick Drmola was brought down in the box, was enough for the young Canaries and they now have just one more fixture before they leave the Totesport.com Combination for a second time.
City reserves: Rudd, Brindley (Oakley 46), Gordon, Francomb, Askou (S. Kelly 46), Lathrope, Adeyemi, Ball, Drmola (A. Stephens 76), D. Kelly, Dawkin. Subs not used: Matthews, Dobbs.
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